Eskimo players go in to stands to give fans thanks for support during long losing streak

A fan poses with Edmonton Eskimo Odell Willis in the stands as the team and fans partied in Edmonton, Alta., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. The Eskimos beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Photo submitted by Glen Cymbaluk. SUBMITTED/Edmonton Sun/

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When the Edmonton Eskimos snapped their long home losing streak on Saturday, a few of the players went above and beyond in giving their thanks.

Defensive end Odell Willis, for example, went right into the stands and made his way up to the concourse level.

Receiver Shamawd Chambers, among others, also went into stands to thank the long-suffering fans for their support.

“It was just to show the fans appreciation for their support for a 1-9, now a 2-9 ball club,” said Willis. “They could have jumped off the bandwagon a long time ago. The fans came out and supported us and I just wanted to show my appreciation to them.”

The fact there were 29,499 fans in the stands at Commonwealth was indeed a testament to their patience.

This is a franchise that once led the league in average attendance by a long measure in its heyday.

Now, Saskatchewan regularly outdraws the Eskimos in their home dates and the Calgary Stampeders fans are threatening to knock off the Esks for the No. 2 spot.

“They’ve been supportive during our troubled times,” said Willis. “When you have guys like we do in the locker room that are willing to stick together no matter what and still have people who still care enough to come out and support, that’s real big.”

Willis took some heat in the pre-season for his former self-styled role with the Bombers as the Mayor of Swaggerville and how that type of conduct was unbecoming of the nebulous Eskimo way.

There hasn’t been much to swagger about this season and when Willis led the player’s charge into the stands, he did the Eskimos name proud.

“You want to do it for your teammates and your community,” said Willis. “That’s what we were able to do. I just wanted to show my appreciation by going to the fans and saying thank you.”

A win in Winnipeg this Friday night would go a long way to erasing some of the doubt for those fans who’d say ‘well, it was only Winnipeg.’

That would make the rematch of the Thrilla in Toronto that much more appealing.

Head coach Kavis Reed made sure his team thanked the fans.

“I asked them to turn around and acknowledge our fan base,” said Reed. “I wanted our team to recognize, as a community-owned team and a cornerstone of the community, that we have a responsibility to do things the right way.

“Our fans haven’t seen a home win for a very long time and we’re very appreciated of the large crowd and the support we’ve got.

Eskimo players go in to stands to give fans thanks for support during long losing streak

When the Edmonton Eskimos snapped their long home losing streak on Saturday, a few of the players went above and beyond in giving their thanks.

Defensive end Odell Willis, for example, went right into the stands and made his way up to the concourse level.

Receiver Shamawd Chambers, among others, also went into stands to thank the long-suffering fans for their support.

“It was just to show the fans appreciation for their support for a 1-9, now a 2-9 ball club,” said Willis. “They could have jumped off the bandwagon a long time ago. The fans came out and supported us and I just wanted to show my appreciation to them.”

The fact there were 29,499 fans in the stands at Commonwealth was indeed a testament to their patience.

This is a franchise that once led the league in average attendance by a long measure in its heyday.

Now, Saskatchewan regularly outdraws the Eskimos in their home dates and